In The End-The Hobbit

Chapter 11 : Out Of The Frying pan And Into The Fire

With all the sudden extra weight, this tree now beings to fall. Groaning in annoyance, I pull myself up and fling myself onto the last tree at the very edge of the cliff edge. Luckily this tree doesn't fall over. Azog laughs, now having us 'corned' in our last tree. Gandalf grabs a pinecone and lights it on fire, throwing it down into the middle of all the Wargs, who retreat in fear of the fire. Gandalf lights two more pinecones and throws one down to Fili who is seated next to me on the same branch. Fili lights another pinecone on fire and hands it to me. I throw it onto a Warg. It shrieks and cries out. Everyone also throws their pinecones.

All the area around the tree gets catches on fire, forcing the Wargs to run away in fear. Azog roars in anger, it makes me jump shock, the sudden roar catching me off guard. Suddenly, the tree we all sit in begins to fall over the cliff edge, but it comes to a rest sticking straight out away from the edge of the cliff. Losing my grip, I let out a small shriek as I nearly fall out of the tree. Fili grabs my arms helping me up as I stare down at the ground far, far, below...

"Aahhh! Oh no!" I hear Ori yell as he falls grabbing onto Dori's legs.

"Mister Gandalf!" Dori cries out trying to hold on to the tree with the extra weight. I let out another shriek as Dori's grip fails and he falls along with Ori. Luckily Gandalf swings out his staff and Dori grabs onto it "Hold on, Ori!" Dori yells out.

I try pulling myself up, but find most of my strength is gone from holding on, feeling completely useless just hanging over here. I look towards Azog as I hear his Warg growl. That's when I see him, Thorin, striding off the tree with his sword in hand, running straight towards the Orc. I look on in horror as the Warg leaps onto Thorin, clawing him at the chest smashing him to the ground. The dwarves and I watch in shock because we are all stuck and can't do anything.

"Help!" Ori's voice yells from under us.

Thorin gets back on his feet still strong and determined. Azog and his White Warg charge at Thorin again. Azog swings his mace and smashes Thorin in the chest, coursing Thorin to be flung to the ground.

"No!" Balin cries out.

We all watch in horror as the White Warg clamps its jaws around Thorin, coursing Thorin to yell out in pain. Dwalin tries to get out of the tree to help Thorin but nearly falls as a branch snaps from beneath his feet. I look away as Thorin is thrown to the ground a few hundred meters away from the Warg. Groaning, I try and pull myself up, using the last of my strength to swing a leg up onto a sturdy branch, breathing heavily as I swing over to that branch, catching a glimpse at the ground as I do so.

I hear Azog's foal voice yell "Biriz torag khobdudol! (Bring me the Dwarf's head!)" I begin to feel sick as I hear the steps of the Orc walking towards Thorin taking out his sword.

"Bilbo! No!" Balin's voice cries. As I swing myself up, my vision catches Bilbo standing in front of Thorin swinging his sword at the Orcs. Seeing Bilbo out there fighting for Thorin gives me the strength to climb the last few branches up onto the trunk of the tree with my elf swiftness. I pull myself up with all my strength I have led. Dwalin and Fili stare as I stand up onto the trunk of the tree, quickly turning to help them up. I pull Fili up first, who helps Kili up as I run over to help Dwalin up as fast as I can.

We leave the others with Gandalf and charge with our swords in hand towards Azog and the other orcs. We begin to hit and stab. I stab an Orc off a Warg, and then I pull out my dagger and twist it into the Wargs head, dodging its sharp teeth as it tries to snap at me. The Wargs surround us, but we keep on fighting, determined to protect the company, Bilbo and Thorin. I swing around, cutting down an Orc, but more seem to appear out of nowhere. It almost seems like there is no hope when suddenly several giant eagles appear and begin to grab the Wargs. More eagles appear and begin to pick up the dwarves out of the trees. Fili, Kili, Dwalin and I kill a few more Wargs and Orcs, watching in awe as the Eagles collect everyone safely. I happily give in as the four of us get swept up by the eagles gracefully.

The Eagles begin to fly away from the Wargs as fast as they can fly. The Eagles soar through the sky over a great distance. I can see Thorin in the claws of an eagle, he lies unconscious.

"Thorin!" Fili yells out but Thorin does not respond. The thought that we're too late passes through my mind.

The Eagles fly over to a giant rock that is shaped like a bear, the Carrock. My Eagle lands and I jump off onto the solid rock, thankful to be back on my feet again. Gandalf slides off his Eagle and runs toward Thorin.

"Thorin! Thorin?" Gandalf says feeling his pulse. Thorin is not responding. Bilbo and I run up behind Gandalf, watching on anxiously. All the dwarves begin to run over as fast as they can. Gandalf places his hand on Thorin's face and whispering, probably a spell. I know that in the hands of Gandalf Thorin is fine, but it still doesn't stop a little worry creeping in.

Thorin's eyes open very slowly and he gasps for air "The Halfling?" Thorin questions.

"It's all right. Bilbo is here. He's quite safe" Gandalf answers.

Kili and Dwalin help Thorin to his feet but once Thorin is standing he pushes them away "You! What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed! Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild and that you had no place amongst us?" Thorin yells.

I look between Thorin and Bilbo. Bilbo has a frightened and worried look on his face. I feel anger in me as I think Thorin is being rude, my arm lightly lifting in front of Bilbo in a defensive way. Thorin walks over to Bilbo to be face to face with him, glancing up at me to request that I step aside. I do so slowly, there's a long pause as Thorin stares back at a worried Bilbo "I've never been so wrong in all my life!" Thorin says pulling Bilbo into a hug. The dwarves all cheer loudly.

I press my lips together in confusion with the sudden atmosphere change. I very much miss judged that, much the way that Thorin claims to have miss judged Bilbo. Although still a little bit shaken and confused, I let a small smile creep on my face. I haven't completely given Thorin enough credit, and apparently, he feels the same way about Bilbo.

"I am sorry I doubted you" Thorin smiles.

"No, I would have doubted me too. I'm not a hero or a warrior...not even a burglar" Bilbo says causing a few chuckles as the Eagles begin to fly away. We all look in the direction the sun is beginning to rise over. In the distance, sits the lonely mountain.

"Is that what I think it is?" Bilbo asks.

"Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. The last of the great dwarf kingdoms of Middle Earth" Gandalf says taking a big breath.

"Our home," Thorin says under his breath.

A bird cheeps and flies by "A raven! The birds are returning to the mountain" Oin yells. More birds are heard in the distance.

"That, my dear Oin is a thrush," Gandalf says.

"But we'll take it as a sign, a good omen," Thorin says with a smile.

"You're right. I do believe the worst is behind us" Bilbo says also with a smile.

I let out a big breath. Well, hopefully, the worst is behind us. Hopefully.